Inhaler

Abstract

One aspect of the present invention relates to an inhaler which is capable of generating super fine particle which has a uniform particle size and has a core-shell structure in which the core comprises a first liquid substance to be sprayed and the shell comprises a second liquid substance to be sprayed. According to this aspect, the present invention can spray superfine particles of liquid medicine and the like with a uniform particle size, and can perform coating for sustained release and the like for the superfine particles.

1 . An inhaler comprising:
 at least one fine particle generating nozzle for generating fine particles comprising a first liquid substance to be sprayed and a second liquid substance to be sprayed by atomizing the first liquid substance and the second liquid substance with gas;   at least one separating vessel for separating the fine particles generated by the fine particle generating nozzle; and   at least one discharging section for discharging superfine particles separated from the fine particles in the separating vessel;   a particle size setting means for setting a particle size of the superfine particles to be discharged from the discharging section;   a particle size detecting means for detecting a particle size of the superfine particles to be discharged from the discharging section; and   a first gas pressure control means for controlling the pressure of a gas to be fed to the fine particle generating nozzle such that the particle size of the superfine particles detected by the particle size detecting means is equal to the particle size of the superfine particles set by the particle size setting means,   
       wherein 
       the fine particle generating nozzle comprises
 a first injection outlet to inject the first liquid substance to be sprayed into the separating vessel, 
 a second injection outlet to inject the second liquid substance to be sprayed into the separating vessel, and 
 a gas injection outlet to inject the gas into the separating vessel, 
 
       where 
       the gas injection outlet is arranged around the first injection outlet and the second injection outlet such that the fine particle generating nozzle is capable of generating a fine particle having a core-shell structure in which the core comprises first liquid substance to be sprayed and the shell comprises the second liquid substance to be sprayed. 
     
     
         2 . The inhaler according to  claim 1 , wherein the fine particle generating nozzle comprises
 a nozzle body having the first injection outlet and the second injection outlet, and   a nozzle cover to form a gap around the nozzle body, where   
       the gap connects to the gas injection outlet and a source of the gas, and 
       the gas injection outlet is capable of injecting the gas around the first injection outlet and the second injection outlet. 
     
     
         3 . The inhaler according to  claim 1 , wherein the gas injection outlet is in the shape of a circle. 
     
     
         4 . The inhaler according to  claim 1 , wherein the second injection outlet is arranged around the first injection outlet. 
     
     
         5 . The inhaler according to  claim 1 , wherein the second injection outlet is in the shape of a circle. 
     
     
         6 . The inhaler according to  claim 1 , wherein the first injection outlet is arranged in the second injection outlet. 
     
     
         7 . The inhaler according to  claim 1 , wherein the first liquid substance to be sprayed and/or the second liquid substance to be sprayed comprise(s) a liposome. 
     
     
         8 . The inhaler according to  claim 1 , further comprising a collecting section for collecting the superfine particle which is not inhaled at the discharging section. 
     
     
         9 . The inhaler according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a particle amount setting means for setting the amount of superfine particles to be discharged from the discharging section;   a particle amount detecting means for detecting the amount of superfine particles to be discharged from the discharging section; and   a liquid substance amount controlling means for controlling the amount of the first liquid substance to be sprayed and/or the amount of the second liquid substance to be sprayed such that the amount of the superfine particles detected by the particle amount detecting means is equal to the amount of superfine particles set by the particle amount setting means.   
     
     
         10 . The inhaler according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a secondary gas feeding means for feeding a secondary gas for elevating the fine particles in the separating vessel; and   a second gas pressure control means for controlling the pressure of the secondary gas to be fed by the secondary gas feeding means such that the particle size of the superfine particles detected by the particle size detecting means is equal to the particle size of the superfine particles set by the particle size setting means.   
     
     
         11 . The inhaler according to  claim 1 , wherein the separating vessel comprises:
 a flow rectifying member for guiding the fine particles generated by the fine particle generating nozzle to a lower part of the separating vessel; and   at least one fine particle sorting plate for controlling floating up of the fine particles guided to the lower part of the separating vessel by the flow rectifying member and for sorting the fine particles.   
     
     
         12 . The inhaler according to  claim 11 , wherein a plurality of fine particle sorting plates each of which is provided with a plurality of fine particle passing holes through which fine particles pass are disposed inside the separating vessel, and the size of the fine particle passing holes provided at the fine particle sorting plate positioned at the lower side is larger than the size of the fine particle passing holes provided at the fine particle sorting plate positioned at the upper side. 
     
     
         13 . The inhaler according to  claim 1 , further comprising:
 an electrical charge supplying means for supplying electrical charges to the superfine particles to be discharged from the discharging section; and   an electrical charge quantity control means for controlling the quantity of electrical charges to be supplied to the superfine particles by the electrical charge supplying means.   
     
     
         14 . The inhaler according to  claim 1 , wherein the vessel wall of the separating vessel has a gas introduction means for introducing gas from outside into the separating vessel. 
     
     
         15 . An inhaler comprising:
 at least one fine particle generating nozzle for generating fine particles comprising a liquid substance to be sprayed by atomizing the liquid substance to be sprayed with gas;   at least one separating vessel for separating the fine particles generated by the fine particle generating nozzle; and   at least one discharging section for discharging superfine particles separated from the fine particles in the separating vessel;   a particle size setting means for setting a particle size of the superfine particles to be discharged from the discharging section;   a particle size detecting means for detecting a particle size of the superfine particles to be discharged from the discharging section; and   a first gas pressure control means for controlling the pressure of a gas to be fed to the fine particle generating nozzle such that the particle size of the superfine particles detected by the particle size detecting means is equal to the particle size of the superfine particles set by the particle size setting means,   
       wherein 
       the vessel wall of the separating vessel has a gas introduction means for introducing gas from outside into the separating vessel.